Robin's Ramblings

I didn't feel like I had much to blog about up until Friday. It is now Sunday and that has changed. Funny how the weekends do that to us and is there any wonder why I look forward to them so much?

• First, an explanation of the picture I chose. First of all, I absolutely love it because James is looking at the camera and flashing a genuine smile-- a cherished rarity. But mostly, I chose it because of the story behind it.  So, Mike works 1 1/2 miles from our house which is absolutely Wonderful! The boys love going on walks to visit him. Plus, there is a delicious pizza place across the street from him. My three boys love pizza. On Friday we went to visit him, play with the toys in the office, and go for pizza. James also loves to play with the water in the fountain outside of his office. Which is what he did until he leaned in too far-- and fell in. The water's untreated so instead of continuing our walk to pizza we went back in to the office and gave James a bath-- in the kitchen sink with dish soap. Kind of the highlight of his trip and too much positive reinforcement for something we hope to avoid in the future. We did finally get our pizza with James dressed in my sweater that was in the stroller.
• Apple picking. Mike's Aunt Sara has these amazingly delicious apple trees in her back yard and picking/ making pies with them has become a favorite fall tradition. This year we made a family affair out of it as the boys both enjoyed helping pick then sitting in the grass gnawing on the freshapples. We've already had some apple cobbler with them. Mmmm.
• A Special Guest! So, my Mom calls Friday and asks what we're doing that night. Apples. I tell her. Peeling tons of apples. She then asks if we want to do a BBQ instead. Come to find out my brother was in town for a last minute business trip and had some spare time to get together. So, we chucked all the apples in a huge bin--which they filled and overflowed-- and had a family bbq with Ama, Shad, and Tammy's family instead. Definitely more enjoyable and super fun to get together. Shad lives in CA and we're Lucky to see him once a year.
• Kneaders. If you live in Utah and have never eaten the "all you can eat French toast breakfast " at Kneaders, then you need to! Yummy! They have it every morning until 11 am. It's like dessert for breakfast.
• Plants vs Zombies. Has anyone else out there played this game? It's the most addictive game (and really only game for that very reason) that I've played since Mario Brothers in junior high with my best friend Amy. So, I think we might have to delete the game from Mike's iPad. For the last two nights I've stayed up until 2 am playing it and passing through the levels. Plus, when I close my eyes I see little sunshines, coins, and shooting peas. And, when I was looking at the designs on the bathroom tile last night, I saw zombies as the shapes. Wonder what I'd see if I did and ink spot test right now... So, as fun as it's been, and though I play it at night, it kind of brings back words from Sister Beck's talk in regional conference last Sunday about Mom's neglecting their kids because they're spending too much time on the computer.
• Thanksgiving Point Children's discovery park. We have an annual pass to TP and like to go there about once a week. On Saturday we all went to this park instead of the usual farm country and it was a blast! Both kids loved playing in the sand pit, feeding and watching the fish, playing at the splash pad, and James loved racing boats down this little stream and pond they've made. Definitely going back this next week.
• Much needed date night. Maybe it's my excessive computer game playing/ lack of sleep. Or, maybe it's the fact that both boys had colds and fevers. But, they have both been so fussy this week! Last night our ward had a progressive dinner and we left them both home with Ama. Usually I go through a little bit of separation anxiety when I say good-bye to them. Not last night. I didn't even look back to give a second wave. Good riddance and happy date night for us!
• Costco meat. For dinner last night we had this Amazing grilled roast that apparently you buy at Costco (Morton's). It even comes marinated. Totally going to get some of that next time we have to cook for people.
• Is it sad that my almost 3 year old calls multi-grain crackers "cookies?" Poor kid. He thinks crackers, yogurt, and dried pineapple rings are the best desserts ever!
• Birds and Bees course 101. So, we haven't even tried potty training James because he hasn't once gone to the bathroom in the big boy toilet. He'll go in the bathtub... as will Daniel, he'll go On Daniel, he'll go on the back porch... but he can't seem to figure out going in the toilet. A few days ago James was in the bathroom with me and started going through everyone in the family. "James' peepee. Daddy's peepee. Daniel's peepee. Mommy's peepee." That's when I stopped him right there and explained that Mommy is a girl and does not have a peepee. Only boys.

Updates on the Danimal.

• He is one stinky kid. Really. He carries a cloud with him. Especially when he eats beans or has his morning poo.  Last night while babysitting Ama said, "I've changed a lot of dirty diapers in my life but that was by far the smelliest!"
• Daniel has been cut from the boob. 100% hooray! I finally weened him at 14 months though he would love to nurse until he's five.
• He is growing up way too fast and took us by surprise by opening his bedroom door all by himself.
• Saying words: Cat, dog, Mama, Mom, Dada, duck, quack, hi. Also, babbling a lot and trying to say most words.
• Walking is almost his preferred mode of transportation. Looking forward to that day.
• Monday's special procedure. Because Daniel was early, he wasn't circumcised. Standard procedure was to wait for a year. Well, he's a year and the party's tomorrow! Though he's going to miss his rubber band to pull and snap in the bathtub, as his Mom and primary bather, I'm looking forward to it simplifying our cleaning routine.

And, finally, the quote of the week: "I need a Blanca." Blanca is woman who babysits Shad's kids, washes, folds, and puts away laundry, vacuums, washes bathroom mirrors, dusts, sweeps, mops, washes baseboards, and does anything else you'd like her to do... 10 hours a week. Imagine how my house would look! I wouldn't have piles of clean clothes molding, wrinkling, and collecting dust on our closet floor 2 out of 4 weeks of every month. Mike would no longer need to buy wrinkle-free white shirts. I wouldn't be able to draw in the dust on the top of our piano. Out dishwasher would be empty instead of having the same clean dishes in it for three days straight. Oh, thou Blessed Blanca.